The Martyr – Saint Bartholomew depicts the martyred saint who was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. The figure of Saint Bartholomew and the brutal events of his martyrdom were popular subjects in Christian art history. Depictions of his flayed body allowed artists to demonstrate their mastery of human anatomy. 

His interpretation creates a commanding presence. It is inspired by the 16th century statue by Italian sculptor Marco d’Agrate displayed at the Duomo di Milano, where the saint’s skin is draped around his shoulders. In Hirst’s version he holds scissors and a scalpel to suggest that his torture is self-inflicted. He also references the film character Edward Scissorhands, who he says was “in a similarly tragic and difficult position”.

Hirst’s inspiration for the work also comes from “memories I have of woodcuts and etchings I remember seeing when I was younger”. He grew up in a Catholic household and was deeply influenced by the religious imagery around him. He even sketched corpses at a mortuary to help him overcome his fear of death. These early experiences shaped the development of the artist’s visual language, which challenges the boundaries between art, science and religion.

Damien Hirst (b.1965) grew up in Leeds and studied at Leeds College of Art and Goldsmiths University, London. Recognised as a leading artist of his generation, he works across installation, sculpture, painting, and drawing. He has exhibited internationally and his work is held in many public collections, including the British Museum, Tate and the Museum of Modern Art, New York. He was awarded the Turner Prize in 1995. Three large bronze works by Hirst - The Virgin Mother, Charity and The Hat Makes The Man are currently on display in YSP’s Country Park, near The Weston.

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